THE 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman was a huge critical and box office success.

It was not a 'rom-com' but a gritty, yet modern love drama and it had the bonus of the beautiful, sweeping theme song in Up where we belong.

It dealt with issues from bullying to suicide, class and racism to dreams and aspirations.

It was no surprise that one day it would be adapted for the stage and, happily, by the original writer of the screenplay Douglas Day Stewart.

Here he has co-written the book based, on a true story, with Sharleen Cooper Cohen – they make a great team.

Comparisons will always be made with the much-loved movie but this two-and-a-half-hour piece of theatre has its own distinct cinematic feel.

The plot remains the same as does the dialogue in director Nikolai Foster’s well-paced version.

The central figures are Zack Mayo - a stand-offish trainee US pilot played by Jonny Fin.

He may not have the Richard Gere swagger but he has the audience on his side from the outset, when he arrives all moody and macho on his motorbike.

Feisty factory girl Paula Pokrifki is played by accomplished actress by Emma Williams.

Her character desperate to escape small town life. Emma's gutsy rendition of the Heart song Alone is a highlight.

Fine performances, too, from Jessica Daley as the manipulative Lynette and Ian McIntosh as the insecure country boy Sid.

The striking set design features an industrial scaffold site where costumes are dark and grey to the naval base and its visual contrast of crisp white uniforms.

At boot camp we meet the no-nonsense drill sergeant Emil Foley.

Ray Fell commanded attention in the demanding role throughout.

There are some stunning projection scenes cleverly used to depict the gruelling training of the pilots-in-waiting.

This world premiere production from the Leicester Curve theatre is on a pre-West End tour and has energy, style and high production values.

There are plenty of power ballads from the '80s and re-worked classics such as Heart of glass, Material girl and St Elmo's fire.

They have not been shoe-horned in, but help carry the narrative up to the emotionally electrifying finale with its fairy-tale ending of dashing officer and gentleman taking his Cinderella off to a new life.

I do hope they got a wonderful posting.

This is an extremely enjoyable and lively adaptation from a top class cast and a superb eight-piece band.

Like Dirty Dancing, Fame and Footloose in the same movie-to-stage genre there will always be an audience for this type of vibrant, engaging feel-good production.

Passed with flying colours - four stars

The show is at the Liverpool Empire until Saturday.

Tickets from the box office on 08448713017.